Many professions evolve over a generation, but few have undergone a transformation as profound as that of architects.
For centuries, architects used their skills to create spaces that captured culture and ambition — grand libraries, museums and hyper-tall buildings. But today, architects are called to take on challenges that may seem less glamorous, but are far more impactful.
The future of architecture isn’t about iconic buildings for the few — it’s about creating affordable, accessible housing that fits real urban life. This shift calls for a practical design approach, clear communication and public engagement.
Architects need to speak plainly, design with purpose and get involved in public discourse to address today’s big challenges. Yes, we’ve faced housing shortages throughout history, but never at a time of such immense wealth and wealth gaps.
This reality makes addressing affordability and accessibility an urgent and essential task for our profession.
Speaking in a new tongue
Architects have long spoken in a language only they could understand. Architectural jargon, often rich with technical terms, obscure references and aesthetic ideologies, was historically used to define the profession’s boundaries. This language created a mystique around the architect and a certain exclusivity around architectural spaces.
It’s time to dismantle this idea.
When I started architecture school, I came in as yet another member of the public, drawn to architecture by public buildings like libraries and museums. But by the time I graduated, I’d come to see that the most meaningful work lies in multifamily residential projects — creating the homes our generation is so clearly struggling to build.
Using plain language is essential to demystifying the role of architects.
More than ever, architecture must be accessible, and that begins with clear communication. When architects speak plainly, they build trust, clarity and understanding.
This shift away from jargon makes room for genuine engagement with communities and for architecture to be understood as a means of enhancing daily life, rather than a luxury.
A new focus on essential buildings
In the past, ambition in architecture often focused on signature buildings like libraries, museums and concert halls. These spaces served as the “icons” of a city, symbols of civic pride or economic aspiration.
But for our generation, architectural ambition should pivot from the monumental to the essential. The new “monuments” must be multifamily buildings that serve communities, provide essential housing, and address the very real challenges of affordability, density and social cohesion.
Architecture that once reached for the extraordinary must now focus on elevating the ordinary.
This is a call to invest creativity, care and quality into multifamily residential projects that will shape people’s daily lives. To design spaces that enhance mental well-being, create community and offer comfort, architects must consider sustainability, durability and affordability as baseline requirements rather than optional add-ons.
It’s no longer enough to create spaces that simply look good in renderings. The new architect is tasked with creating buildings that work for people — spaces that make cities more livable, inclusive and sustainable.
A field that is inherently political
For too long, architecture has often been considered an apolitical profession, focusing narrowly on design and aesthetics. But housing, urban planning and the built environment are inherently political. Zoning laws, land-use regulations, funding for public projects and community planning processes all shape the architect’s work, yet architects have historically kept themselves at arm’s length from these conversations.
In an era of housing crises, climate change and growing inequality, architects can no longer afford to be passive observers. The new architect must be politically aware and unafraid to engage in public discourse.
Architects have an essential perspective on the relationship between space, policy and human experience. They can and should advocate for policies that address housing shortages, environmental sustainability and inclusive urban planning. By actively participating in the political discourse, architects bring practical, solutions-oriented voices to discussions that too often lack an understanding of spatial impacts.
Architects are in a unique position to advocate for policies that shape the spaces where people live, work and gather. They should be pressing for housing regulations that encourage density and affordability, for example, or for transportation planning that prioritizes pedestrians and cyclists over cars.
Our true value to society
The profession of architecture is shifting from one of isolated creative endeavor to one deeply embedded in community, communication and politics. Architects can no longer rely on the allure of architectural jargon, nor can they operate in professional silos, designing buildings without considering the broader impacts of their work.
Today, the value of an architect lies in the ability to design spaces that resonate with real people, meet urgent needs and contribute to a broader vision of how our cities will evolve.
To succeed in this new era, architects need to become fluent in the language of people — not just the language of design. They must understand the political landscape in which they operate and be willing to engage with it.
Most of all, they must focus their efforts on designing spaces that serve society’s most pressing needs.
Long live the new architect, a professional committed to making architecture a force for public good, one that is as engaged with the political realities of our time as it is with the spatial and aesthetic concerns of the built environment.
